Willersley Castle, Mill Road, Cromford, MATLOCK, Derbyshire, DE4 5JH

Without planning permission the unauthorised erection of structures in the grounds of a listed building as shown on both aerial photographic views and individual photographs attached to the notice at annexes Plan 1 and Plan 2: 1. Octagonal Structure 2. Three poles and tyres 3. Wired climb through 4. Rope and tub balance 5. Run over platform 6. Air rifle shooting range 7. Archery range 8. Assorted climbing/rope walking structures 9. Axe throwing range 10. Raised timber planter with seating around 11. 2 x timber river bank landing stages

Authority: Derbyshire Dales District Council
Appeal type: enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: leisure-sport · Major retail and services
Inspector: Gray E

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effect of the development on the significance of the grade II* listed building, including its setting, and on the character and appearance of the Willersley Castle Registered Historic Park and Garden, the Cromford Village Conservation Area, and the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site

What decided it

The structures disrupt the close visual relationship between the listed building and its landscape setting, causing less than substantial harm to heritage significance that is not outweighed by public benefits, contrary to NPPF paragraph 193 and the statutory duties in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

Framework references: 193, 195, 196

Plan policies cited: Policy PD2, Policy PD3

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

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